2014 NFL Supplemental Draft Preview
Sep 7, 2013; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels back Darius Lipford (23) celebrates after a play against the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders at Kenan Memorial Stadium. North Carolina won 40-20. Mandatory Credit: Liz Condo-USA TODAY Sports
LB Darius Lipford, University of North Carolina
Coming from a football family (Father ,Darrell, was a star running back who once scored seven touchdowns in a prep game and is the all-time leading rusher at Western Carolina University), Darius Lipford is perhaps a sleeper line backer from the University of North Carolina. During his career at UNC, Lipford was able to record 66 career tackles, 2.5 sacks, 7.5 tackles for loss, five passes defended and five QB hurries. According to his UNC bio, Lipford during his sophomore season “became the full-time starter at the strong side linebacker spot midway through the season. Played in all 13 games and officially started four games. Tore his ACL in the Independence Bowl vs. Missouri. Finished the regular season with 42 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, one quarterback hurry and four pass breakups. Posted two tackles and broke up a pass before injurying his knee against Missouri.” As well, in 2013 Lipford “returned from a year-long absence and made three tackles and had one quarterback pressure in the season opener at No. 6 South Carolina. Redshirted in 2012.” While Lipford may not have the stats necessarily, he does have some talent. While in High School, Lipford was a monster LB. He was “one of the highest rated linebackers in North Carolina. Member of North Carolina’s Shrine Bowl team. Had a sack and forced a fumble in the Shrine Bowl. SuperPrep’s 13th-ranked player in North Carolina. Ranked the No. 25 prospect in North Carolina by The Charlotte Observer. Considered the No. 39 outside linebacker prospect in the country by ESPN.com. Earned first-team all-state honors.”
With that said, Lipford would probably fit best with a team that desperately needs linebackers. One team that immediately comes to mind is the Dallas Cowboys. In 16 games this season, the Cowboys allowed a horrendous 415.3 total yards per game, 286.6 of them through the air and 128.5 of them coming on the ground (ranked 32nd, 30th and 27th overall this season, respectively). One of the reasons why the Cowboys defense played so poorly was due to their secondary and a lot of injuries in their front 7. DeMarcus Ware was gone for some of the Cowboys games as well as inside linebacker Sean Lee. Due to their absences on the defensive line, the Cowboys ranked 25th in the league last season with only 34.0 sacks and 42 tackles tackles for loss. Typically DeMarcus Ware sacks opposing QBs an average of 13.0 times per season, however because of injuries he was only able to sack QBs 6.0 times. On the rushing side of the ball as well as the passing side of the ball, the Cowboys definitely needed some help. You’ve seen their stats against the run last season: 128.5 rushing yards allowed per game, 131 rushing yards per game in their last 13 games, 13 rushing touchdowns and 10 games of over 100 yards to opposing running backs (2 of them for over 200 yards). In short in the last 13 games of the season the Cowboys were absolutely abhorrent against the run. Due to injuries to their front 7 the Cowboys defense suffered pretty noticeably. Now while the majority of their defensive woes were on the passing side of the ball, defense is a two part game, you have to be ready for both sides of the ball. With LB Sean Lee injured for the season, the Cowboys went out and signed LB Rolando McClain to replace him. In the draft, the Cowboys selected quite a few defensive products. Not two months ago McClain had proclaimed to be out of football forever, now he’s back with the ‘Boys. I think that the Cowboys do not need yet another rookie, however I think that any LB talent is as good as what they have on the field right now.
Other teams that perhaps could be interested would be the Buffalo Bills (after Kiko Alonso’s injury) or even the Chicago Bears who also had some defensive woes last season. Lipford is unseasoned, however he’s got the 6’3″ frame to do some real damage.